Texas Gov. Greg Abbott says he's dedicated to getting an education choice bill passed this legislative session, noting that "parents are their children's first teachers," in a recent Twitter post.
The Texas Legislature is currently considering bills that would give parents more freedom, as Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) continue to gain momentum in other states. ESAs are state-funded accounts that parents can use for multiple forms of education, tutoring, homeschooling, workforce training, apprenticeships, private school or charter schools, according to Ed Choice.
Abbot shared a video of his wife, Cecilia, a former teacher and principal. "No one knows that better than @TexasFLCA, a former teacher & principal & proud mom to our daughter Audrey," he wrote. "This session, we’ll ensure parents remain the most important voice in their children’s education."
In the video, Cecilia Abbott emphasized her experience as an educator witnessing how important quality education is for Texas children.
Eight states currently have ESA programs, including Arizona, Florida, Indiana, Mississippi, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Tennessee and West Virginia, Ed Choice reported. In some cases, ESAs will allow for part-time public school courses in addition to private schools, trade schools or apprenticeships.
The school choice movement is "sweeping the nation" former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush wrote in an opinion piece in the Wall Street Journal. Florida currently has a school choice program but is considering a bill to expand it. Bush claimed 31 states have enacted some type of school choice policy, "dramatically expanding the power of parents to exercise control over how their child’s education is provided," he wrote.
Bush claimed Florida's program is the "most expansive," but Arizona and West Virginia have both created ESA programs that benefit every family in their respective states. Bush calls ESA's a "game changer" because "they empower families to personalize their children’s education."
"Want to purchase an online math course? ESAs cover that. Extra books? ESAs allow for that," he wrote. "Tutoring to close learning gaps? That’s an allowable ESA expense. Maybe your student needs a blended approach that includes private school tuition and educational therapies. An ESA has your back."
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds and Utah Gov. Spencer Cox have both signed ESA bills, Bush wrote, adding that in Texas, educational choice bills are "moving." Bush cited a February 2022 Real Clear Opinion Research poll, which found that more than 72% of parents supported school choice, including 68% of Democrats, 82% of Republicans and 67% of independents. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro supports a school choice program that would fund and benefit public schools. Bush added that "parents are rightfully demanding a system that is individualized and empowers each student to achieve his full potential."
The focus of the debates in Texas involve whether or not to allow "funds follow students" provisions, which Abbot has supported, according to a report by Texas Scorecard. Several bills have been filed including tax-credit scholarship, tax-credit education savings account, and individual tax-credit reimbursement programs.
"Now is the time to expand education savings accounts (ESAs) to every child in the state of Texas. That will give all parents the ability to choose the best education option for their child," Abbot told the Austin Journal.